Rupert and James Murdoch to return to give evidence at Leveson Inquiry

Rupert Murdoch and his son James will give evidence at the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the press next week, it has been revealed.

Rupert Murdoch (Picture: AP)

James Murdoch (Picture: Getty)

News Corp founder, chairman and chief executive officer Rupert Murdoch is due to give evidence between 10am and 4.30pm on Wednesday April 25, with a second session pencilled in for the following day between 10am and 1pm.

His son James, who this year has stood down as executive chairman of News Corp’s UK newspaper arm News International and more recently as chairman of BSkyB, is due to give a full day of evidence before his father, on Tuesday April 24.

It marks the first time either man has appeared before the Leveson Inquiry, which was launched in the wake of the phone hacking scandal at the News of the World, which was shut down last July.

They did however appear together at the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee last year, during which Rupert Murdoch was struck in the face with a plate of shaving foam by protester Jonnie Marbles.

It was not immediately clear whether the appearances would be in person or via videolink.

Also appearing before the inquiry next week as it resumes after a two-week break are Aidan Barclay, chairman of Telegraph Media Group, and Evgeny Lebedev, who runs the Independent titles and the Evening Standard.